Matt Campbell

Volkswagen Milano taxi

VW Milano taxi

Volkswagen has unveiled a plug-in electric taxi that gives new meaning to the word Cabcharge.

The plug-in electric Milano Taxi concept is set to change the way people think about taxis. It's powered by an 85kW electric motor, which is linked to bank of lithium-ion batteries integrated into the car's underbody.

It has a handy range of up to 300 kilometres on a charge, which makes the Milano Taxi more viable as a transport solution than some current EV's (like Mitsubishi's i-MiEV) which currently offer only about half that range.

The German automaker's electric vehicle strategy is set to see them release their so-called "E-mobility" range of electric cars in 2013, which could include the likes of an electric Golf, Jetta, and the E-Up small car.

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Volkswagen says the Milano Taxi concept gives us a glimpse into the future of Volkswagen cars, and that the genes of future VW's are already recognisable in the Milano Taxi, such as the new "face" of the car which lacks a radiator grille (as there is no radiator needed for an electric car).

The body of the left-hand-drive Milano Taxi is designed primarily for rearward entry by passengers, and there's an ingenious rear swivel-sliding seat on the right-hand side of the vehicle to make it easier for customers to jump in.

Notably, there's no front passenger seat - instead, Volkswagen has left this space for cargo, as the short body of the Milano Taxi leaves little space behind the rear seats. But if the boot is required, it can be accessed by a pair of laterally swinging 60/40 rear doors.

When there are passengers in the taxi, they can use the 8-inch touch-screen in the rear of the car to check and/or pay their fare, find out information about interesting sights along their route (available in various languages), and even check the weather forecast.

Passengers can also take control of their climate thanks to the touch-screen's integrated air-conditioning/heating management system.

The driver also gets a multi-function touch-screen which controls virtually all driving aspects of the car apart from acceleration, braking and steering.

Like the Volkswagen Samba Bus of the 1950s, there's a lot of glass in the roof panels of the car, including above the tops of the doors and the taxi's panoramic sunroof.

Volkswagen's range of electric vehicles will also be joined by several hybrid models, including variants of the Touareg, Jetta, Passat, and the manufacturer's volume-selling Golf.

9 comments so far

Meanwhile back in the real world. Battery electric vehicles can have 300km range with enough batteries BUT pay the penalty in stop go driving. I bet its range is far less than 100 km as a suburban taxi with its larger size and weight than the i-Miev. Charging time is not mentioned, critical for a taxi. Integrated batteries mean that it is not 'swap and go'. Can I take luggage to the airport? Not in this vehicle.
At least hybrids can run all day. Better yet is LPG or diesel.
And how far can one go with the customer ontrolled battery powered air conditioner. Volkswagen, a fail, journalist a fail.

Commenter

Infinite Wisdom

Location

Windsor

Date and time

April 21, 2010, 9:52AM

Infinite Wisdom (an oxymoron, apparently)
Points:
* The average number of kilometres travelled by Australian private cars is 16km per day. 300km range comfortably encompasses average (city) use.
* When an electric car is stationary, it uses no fuel (battery power).
* Electric cars (usually) recover much of the lost energy in braking, by regenerative processes.
* Petrol and, more particularly, Diesel engines have a narrow optimum operating rev range. Outside that range, efficiency suffers significantly. Electric motors operate with around 90% efficiency at all speeds.

Commenter

Zaphod

Location

Sydney

Date and time

April 21, 2010, 11:03AM

Zaphod I suggest a realty check. We are talking abot a TAXI not a 10 to 30 km commute twice a day. The article does NOT claim a 300 km City use but up to 300 km range. Any vehicle uses more energy accelerating than at continuous speed. Hybrids perform poorly at highway speed but take advantage of stored battery energy and electric motor to reduce fuel used during acceleration. Regenerative braking puts only a small portion of energy used in acceleration or running back into the battery.
The more mass to accelerate, then the greater energy required.
You might be unaware that there is and will be a world wide shortage of Lithium, makes more sense to go hybrid and use our other portable fuels (Petrol, diesel and lpg) to reduce the ultimate battery size.
Agree with your comments on Diesel and Petrol (or LPG)
revolution range but that is why vehicles have gear boxes. Coupled to a Torque converter even low reving diesels can be driveable in city traffic. Having worked in the field of Energy Technology (Solar, Wind and Hybrid technologies) I would say that my comprehension of electric/hybrid vehicles is greater than yours.
I challenge you to actually use this taxi to get to Melbourne Airport with 2 passengers and luggage after it has already made the trip twice with any confidence.

Carbon doesn't care where it is emitted from. Could be the tailpipe or a power station. Either way, we're not solving any problems by throwing cash at these things in favour of better developing ICEs or hybrids. It's time to think a bit more strategically about greener transport.

Zaphod,

EVs do not recover "much" of their energy - perhaps 10 percent. Stop trying to green wash the debate.

And we're talking about Taxi's here. They probably do 1500 km a day. An order of magnitude of 100 higher than the number you referred to.

Commenter

Timmy O'toole

Location

Yallourn, Hazelwood

Date and time

April 21, 2010, 12:34PM

timmy o'tool [e omitted deliberately],

1. Calling them brown coal powered vehicles would be apt for Australia, particularly victoria, but not for Europe, where the car is intended for use. They supply a much larger porportion of their power via nuclear, wind, water.

2. Brown coal is more abundant than oil.

I'm not saying this is the solution, far from it. They neglect to mention recharge times. 300km would be fine for a taxi for half a day maybe, then if it's being charged for the rest of the day, hardly worth while!

I don't think this taxi is designed for sprawling cities. More for smaller, or CBD use to get 'across town'.

Commenter

tim

Location

melbourne

Date and time

April 21, 2010, 8:55PM

This is early days for production electric cars. As time goes on the range will increase as will their general usefulness.

Commenter

BundyGil

Location

Bundaberg

Date and time

April 21, 2010, 10:05PM

Magic pudding comment from BundyGil. Yes you are right but at a cost. Modern Lithium batteries have a very high energy density and cost compared to lead acid. For a commuting vehicle fine but who can afford a car for commuting and another for long distance travel.
A hybrid at least, can perform both functions. The question is, can the extra cost and weight be justified for a saving of ~2 litres per 100km. Given a high 20,000 km per year travel and a fuel cost of $2.00 per litre and savings of 2 litres per 100km we get a return of $800 per year. So in 10 years we have saved the $8,000 premium for a Toyota Camry hybrid. Just in time to scrap it or pay another $8,000 for battery replacement.
Having been following the electric / hybrid / hydrogen fuel cell developments for 40 years I have yet to see the Great Leap Forward. For fun and cheap commuting with a bit of healthy excercise I suggest people check out electric bicycles.

Commenter

Infinite Wisdom

Location

Windsor

Date and time

April 22, 2010, 9:23AM

@Infinite Wisdom

You claim to know about alternative energy and yet you support hybrids. Have you even looked at the data? The claims are wildly inaccurate if not plain decietful.

one simple example using the biggest hybrid name, the prius. it claims to use half the fuel of it's rivals when there are many cars on the market which can now rival its figures, then added to this is the fact that the vast majority of the prius' advantages have nothing to do with its hybrid system, it relies on skinny tyres, aerodynamics, etc. etc.

toyota even stoop to the same tactics when producing a hybrid and non-hybrid version of the same car in order to make the hybrid seem more effective than it really is. its not the same car so its a false comparison, and you - the self proclaimed genius/expert - have bought the fairy tale.

Commenter

mr_svperstar

Date and time

April 23, 2010, 12:10AM

Charge times? VW say 80% in about an hour. Think about how much taxi cabs sit in queues waiting for an optimal ride. The "fuel tank" is 45 kilowatt hours (about 8 dollars to fill at max retail rate - 6 dollars on off peak). Now think about the average family about town car use, with an every night "tank" top up at home in the garage on offpeak rates. This vehicle will save the average family around $17,000 dollars in fuel charges over 10 years average use. Ignore global warming, this makes brilliant commercial sense all on its own. Other considerations? No regular service charges. Battery servicing can be offset against the periodic timing belt and muffler replacement service costs. A plug in range booster module for the "boot" is possible.

With a top speed of 120 kph this is the perfect city/suburban family car formula, a guaranteed success story.